Fall 2004 CTNS/GTU Course
STHS 5112: History of Theology: 1965-Today
Fall Semester 2004
Tuesdays 2:10 to 5:00pm
Prof. Robert John Russell, CTNS
Prof. Ted Peters, PLTS/CTNS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
An intensive reading course with lecture and discussion on Roman Catholic and Protestant Theologians from Vatican II to the present, with special attention to the task, method, and context of theology. Required of Systematic Theology and Philosophical Theology doctoral students and recommended for advanced master’s level students.
The purpose of the Fall 2004 offering of this course is to discuss major theologians in the second half of the twentieth century in a way that will help Area III doctoral students prepare for their General Comprehensive Examination.
OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT
For the four mandatory theologians—Ruether, Tracy, Gutierrez, and Pannenberg—each doctoral student might want to prepare a 5 to 7 page outline of their thought in terms of nine theological loci: methodology, concept of God, Christology, soteriology, pneumatology, anthropology, ecclesiology, eschatology, and ethics. The Pannenberg outline paper will be due just prior to Reading Week, on October 19; the other three will be due November 30. Once you have prepared the brief outline paper, make an appointment with Professor Peters. Bring two copies of each paper. Discuss the thought of the theologian in light of your paper. This is an optional assignment; it is not required. It is recommended only for students preparing for the Area General Comprehensive Examination.
REQUIRED ASSIGNMENTS
Each student enrolled for credit or audit will be asked to play the role of professor for at least a portion if not the entire class period on one or two occasions during the semester. This will entail reading the required and recommended assignments, preparing and delivering a brief lecture summarizing central material, and conducting class discussion.
Each student registered for credit should also write a term paper, due December 14. Any topic the student selects will be satisfactory. For those students preparing for the General Comprehensive Exam, one of two formats is particularly recommended.
One option for the term paper would be to write an expository treatise on the thought of one theologian, perhaps one of the mandatory four. This paper could simply expand the outline previously handed in. A variant would be to focus on one or two commitments within the selected theologian’s method and then demonstrate how this method exhibits itself or fails to exhibit itself in one or more doctrinal loci.
The other term paper option would be to trace the development of an important school of theological thought from the late 1960s to the present time such as Post-Vatican II Roman Catholic Theology, Process Theology, Black Theology, Latin American Liberation Theology, Feminist Theology, Womanist Theology, Fundamentalist and Evangelical Theology, the dialogue between theology and natural science, the dialogue between Christian theology and non-Christian religions, post-modern theology, or such.
The term paper should be approximately 4,000 to 8,000 words in length, double spaced, proper footnote or endnote form, and be turned in with two copies, one for each professor.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Required
Ford, David F., The Modern Theologians. Oxford: Blackwell, 2nd ed., 1997.
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification [Available Online]
Original works by theologians to be studied
Peters, Ted, and Gaymon Bennett, editors, Bridging Science and Religion. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.
Recommended
Placher, William C., ed., Essentials of Christian Theology. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 2003
Musser, Donald W., and Joseph L. Price, eds., A New Handbook of Christian Theologians. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1996.
CALENDAR
| 7 September |
Overview by the faculty |
| 14 & 21 September |
Wolfhart Pannenberg, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1
Christoph Schwobel, “”Wolfhart Pannenberg,” Ford, Chap. 11
Rec: Ted Peters, “Wolfhart Pannenberg,” in ANHCT |
| 28 September |
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
Rec: Michael Root, “Ecumenical Theology,” Ford, Chap. 27. |
| 5 & 12 October |
Robert John Russell & Kirk Wegter-McNelly, Chapters 1 and 3 of Bridging Science and Religion.
Ted Peters, “Theology and the Natural Sciences,” Ford, Chap. 33
Niels Henrik Gregersen, “The Creation of Creativity and the Flourishing of Creation.” Currents in Theology and Mission, Philip Hefner Festschrift (28:3-4 (June-August 2001) 400-410. [To be handed out]
• October 9, 2004, Saturday, J.K. Russell Conference at CTNS
• October 13, 2004, “Luther Lecture” at PLTS 9:00am through lunch
Guest Professor October 12: Niels Henrik Gregersen |
| 19 October |
Rebecca S. Chopp, “Feminist and Womanist Theologies,” Ford, Chap. 20
Ann Loades, “Feminist Theology,” Ford, Chap. 29
Rec: ECT: Chap. 3, “Is God in Charge?” by Sallie McFague, Kathryn Tanner
Rec: ANHCT: “Womanist Theologians,” by Sheilah M. Jones
1 Outline Paper due on October 19 |
| 26 October |
No class due to Reading Week |
| 2 November |
David Tracy, Plurality and Ambiguity
James J. Buckley, “Revisionists and Liberals,” Ford, Chap. 17
Rec: John P. McCarthy, “David Tracy,” in ANHCT
Nov. 4: David Tracy speaks at JSTB event |
| 9 November |
Rosemary Radford Ruether, Sexism and God Talk
Rec: Mary Hembrow Snyder, “Rosemary Radford Ruether,” in ANHCT
Guest Professor: Rosemary Radford Ruether |
| 16 November |
Gustavo Gutierrez, Essential Writings
Alejandro Garcia-Rivera, Community of the Beautiful, Chap. 2
Rebecca S. Chopp, “Latin American Liberation Theology,” Ford, Chap. 21
M. Shawn Copeland, “Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American Theologies,” Ford, Chap. 19
Rec: Mark McLain Taylor, “Gustavo Gutierrez” in ANHCT
Guest Professor: Alejandro Garcia-Rivera |
| 23 November |
No class |
| 30 November |
Lamin Sanneh, “Theology of Mission,” Ford, Chap. 28
Peter Ochs, “Judaism and Christian Theology,” Ford, Chap. 31
Gavin D’Costa, “Theology of Religions,” Ford, Chap. 32
Rec: Ted Peters, GOD—The World’s Future, Chap. 11
Rec: ECT: Chap. 9, “What about Them?” by Paul Knitter and J.A. DiNoia
3 Outline Papers due November 30 |
| 7 December |
John Zizioulas, Being as Communion
Rowan Williams, “Eastern Orthodox Theology,” Ford, Chap. 25 |
| 14 December |
No class: Term Paper Due |
Dr. Robert John Russell is the Founder and Director of the Center and is Professor of Theology and Science in Residence at the GTU. He is ordained in the United Church of Christ to Ministry in higher education. Dr. Russell serves as primary editor of the CTNS-Vatican Observatory volumes on science and divine action is author of numerous articles in the science and religion dialogue. Dr. Russell serves as Co-editor of Theology and Science.
Dr. Ted Peters is Professor of Systematic Theology, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary and the GTU, teaching in Area III. A former Parish pastor, Rev. Peters is ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). He directs the CTNS Science and Religion Course Program and has authored numerous books and articles. Dr. Peters is the Co-editor of Theology and Science.
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